Chapter 30: This is a Struggle Between the World and the Imperial Family

That dossier also elaborated on a certain individual's perspective.

Behind these rebellions, there were traces of sects and aristocratic clans. In addition to the rebellions, various cults worshipping evil gods were springing up like mushrooms after a rain; similarly, most of these cults had the shadows of certain powers lurking behind them.

The reason for this was that the Martial Saint, who was invincible under heaven, had not appeared for thirty years.

Some suspected that the Martial Saint's time had come and that he had already passed away. This had caused the entire Great Xia to enter a period of instability, leading various factions to harbor subtle intentions of rebellion.

One person even proposed a viewpoint: once it was confirmed that the Martial Saint had passed away, the world might return to an era of warring heroes. Therefore, the root of these rebellions was the struggle for military power.

This caused the current imperial court to be exhausted by constant movement and suppression. Because they failed to implement regulations that decentralized military power—allowing local garrisons and regional armies to act at their own discretion and freely expand their forces—the various sects and clans also gained the authority to expand their disciples and retainers.

By loosening the restrictions on military power, various factions would possess sufficient strength to suppress local rebellions and the cults of evil gods.

Upon reading this, Jiang Ning understood completely.

He understood why Great Xia had experienced so many rebellions in the single year of last year.

This was clearly a confrontation between the entire world and the Imperial Family, rather than a confrontation with the Imperial Court.

The Imperial Court was a regime formed by many various powers.

The decentralization of military power represented a community of interests for everyone except the Imperial Family.

Regardless of whether they possessed ambition, any faction would hope to grow stronger. As they grew, they could either plot for greater things or wait for the right moment to join the strongest side.

Jiang Ning also understood why the Inspectorate had been established with such lightning speed and why a Martial Saint was sent to preside over it.

Forcing the Imperial Family to loosen military power was clearly an "open scheme" (yangmou).

It was a scheme that left the Imperial Family with no choice but to release control over the military. If military power was not released, the rebellions would not cease, the cults would not stop, and the Imperial Court would lack the strength to suppress them, which would inevitably shake the foundations of Great Xia and plunge it into a turbulent era.

To fight against the general trend of the world in this manner, the Inspectorate could not have been established without the personal presence of a Martial Saint.

And once the Inspectorate was truly established, it would also be swept into the great currents of the world.

At this moment, many, many thoughts raced through Jiang Ning's mind.

He pondered for dozens of breaths.

*Whew—*

Only then did Jiang Ning regain his breath.

"Do I even have a choice?"

"My previous guess was that the chaotic era was not approaching, but had already arrived! If I don't join the Inspectorate, what other faction could I possibly join?"

"The Inspectorate is, at the very least, a short-term sanctuary. As long as it gives me some time, I will have enough strength through martial arts to establish myself in Luoshui County."

"Currently, only joining the Inspectorate can grant me that time."

"Furthermore, only the Inspectorate can provide me with the fundamental methods for martial advancement."

"A starving camel is still larger than a horse. The Inspectorate is still the largest tree in this world for now; it won't fall anytime soon. And Great Xia, founded over eight hundred years ago, won't fall anytime soon either!"

Amidst his deliberations, Jiang Ning made his final decision.

Immediately, he set down that dossier and picked up another one containing intelligence regarding Luoshui County.

Since he was currently in Luoshui County, he could not ignore intelligence that recorded details about the place.

With just a cursory glance at this dossier, Jiang Ning understood.

These two dossiers were likely sent by Captain Wang of the garrison outside the city.

Because the intelligence recorded in these two dossiers was so vast and detailed, who else besides Captain Wang could send such detailed information to Wang Jin?

In Luoshui County, it was no secret that Wang Jin and Captain Wang shared a blood relation; many people knew this.

Captain Wang was very likely Wang Jin's younger brother.

The reason Captain Wang could remain a bystander in the struggle for dominance in Luoshui County was not just because he commanded the hundred elite troops outside the city, but also because the entire City Guard of Luoshui County was under his mobilization.

With a hundred elite troops plus over five hundred City Guards, his strength in Luoshui County was in no way weaker than that of the County Magistrate or the local powers led by the three great families.

The County Magistrate controlled the County Lieutenant and the Registrar; within Luoshui County, military and civil administration were integrated, controlling over seven hundred constables, headmen, bailiffs, and runners.

Among them, as far as Jiang Ning knew, the decisive factor was the County Magistrate himself; his elder brother had vaguely learned this previously.

Aside from these two forces were the local powers led by the three great families: Cao, Liu, and Xie.

This force was complex, and he did not know much about it, only that no one in Luoshui County could escape the influence of these three families.

Subsequently, Jiang Ning carefully flipped through the dossier concerning Luoshui County.

The dossier was thick and had significant weight in his hands.

In the blink of an eye...

The crescent moon hanging high in the night sky gradually descended toward the east.

【Reading this book has increased your Literacy Experience by 48 points.】

【Skill】: Literacy (Breakthrough Level 1: 196/2000) (Trait: Photographic Memory)

Jiang Ning turned to the last page of the dossier, slowly withdrew his gaze, and saw the prompt before him.

"About three hours for 48 experience points. The efficiency of gaining experience from reading tonight is higher; there must be a pattern, though it is not easy to figure out."

This thought flashed through Jiang Ning's mind, and he shook his head.

He then closed the dossier and returned it to its original place.

"This dossier records the various factions and experts of Luoshui County in such detail; it seems it was indeed sent by that Captain Wang. If not for someone of his status, who else would have the ability to secretly investigate Luoshui County from top to bottom?"

"Even Xu Yunfeng is recorded here! To think this man is only one step away from entering the martial ranks—that is somewhat unexpected!"

Jiang Ning's gaze drifted as he fell into thought.

"According to the dossier, all factions were already aware of the Inspectorate."

"But then again, if even Wang Jin knew, how could the deeply rooted major powers not have known long ago?"

"The end of the dossier also advises Wang Jin to actively cooperate with the establishment of the Inspectorate. Although the Inspectorate is dangerous, it also offers opportunities."

"It says that the Inspectorate most likely represents the will of the Martial Saint. That Martial Saint hasn't appeared for thirty years, but there is a high probability he is still alive and may appear sometime soon."

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning couldn't help but mutter to himself.

If that were truly the case, joining the Inspectorate would indeed be a good choice.

For me, the benefits clearly outweigh the risks.

Then, he thought of the two people mentioned in the dossier.

Jiang Ning pressed his hand to his forehead, lost in thought.

"Cao Bin... Xu Yunfeng..."

"Why is Xu Yunfeng targeting my brother so much? There must be an involvement of interests! But what exactly is the interest? My brother is such an insignificant existence, a mere constable who hasn't even entered the martial ranks; does he really have that much influence on the County Magistrate?"

"Could it be that Cao Bin chose my brother to satisfy his own selfish desires?"

"And is Xu Yunfeng working so diligently on this because of the upcoming establishment of the Inspectorate?"

"If that is indeed the case, then this matter is relatively easy to resolve; I would only need to face the pressure from Cao Bin and Xu Yunfeng."

After pondering for a long time, Jiang Ning regained his composure and shook his head.

Forget it!

There are too few clues; I won't dwell on this!

My most critical task right now is to achieve martial entry within three months; only then can I join the Inspectorate.

The Inspectorate is presided over by the only Martial Saint of Great Xia. If he is still alive, then the Inspectorate is the greatest tree under heaven.

Since a Martial Saint is personally presiding over it, that is enough to prove the importance of the Inspectorate.

Joining the Inspectorate is, for me, like a fish leaping over the Dragon Gate; I must seize this opportunity!

Not only will my status increase, but there will surely be no shortage of cultivation techniques, secret arts, and precious medicines.

When it comes to sects, which sect has a foundation stronger than the Great Xia Imperial Court?

By then, with the status of the Inspectorate, all crises will resolve themselves.

With the resources of the Inspectorate, I can also continuously grow.

This is killing multiple birds with one stone.